The bestAndy Sambergmovies and TV shows highlight his unique comedic skills, his incredible voice-acting talents and - most importantly - that he’s not limited to roles that require either of these strengths. Born in California in 1978, Andy Samberg got his big break when he and college friends Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone were signed on toSaturday Night Live.Their musical sketches, which they also released as a bandunder the nameThe Lonely Island,instantly became some of the most memorable inSNLhistory.
However, Andy Samberg then went on to become a star in his own right. He became particularly known for his skills as a voice actor, especially after appearing in the likes of 2012’sHotel Transylvania,and would later find further fame in 2013 when he took on the role of Jake Peralta in the sitcomBrooklyn Nine-Nine.However, he’s far from limited to comedy or voice-acting exclusively, as the best Andy Samberg movies and TV shows reveal.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Cast
Miles Morales returns in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. With his identity still safe but “grounded” by his parents, Miles Morales is visited by his friend from another dimension, Gwen Stacy. Inviting him on a new adventure, Miles jumps at the opportunity but is seemingly accosted by an unknown assailant on his journey. Miles and Gwen will unite with new and old Spider-Heroes to face a villain of immeasurable power.
While it’s not the most central role among his best movies and TV shows, Andy Samberg’s appearanceas the Scarlet SpiderinSpider-Man: Across The Spider-Verseis still an incredibly memorable one. The 2023 sequel toSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Versesaw Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) heading out into the multiverse to meet dozens of other Spider-Men (and Spider-Women).
Among the Spider-Man variants ripped from comic book pages given their big screen debut inSpider-Man: Across The Spider-Versewas the Scarlet Spider, a character from the controversial 1990sClone Warssaga. Andy Samberg gave a hilarious performance as the incredibly melodramatic character, one that perfectly spoofed the still-divisive, overly emotional and borderline-soap-opera tone of 1990sSpider-Mancomics.It was a role that perfectly utilized Samberg’s skills as a voice actor, and while he wasn’t central to the plot,Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Versestill remains one of his most noteworthy feature-film appearances.
Lee
Lee Miller, an iconic war photographer, takes audiences on a gripping journey through the heart of 20th-century conflicts. Her camera becomes a powerful tool for truth, exposing the raw and unfiltered realities of war.
While he’s mostly known for his comedy ventures, Andy Samberg has proved he’s capable of delivering solid performances in down-to-earth dramas too. Few movies in his filmography demonstrate this quite as effectively as 2023’sLee,the wartime biopic from director Ellen Kuras. Starring Kate Winslet in the titular,Leeadapts the 1985 biographyThe Lives of Lee Millerby author Anthony Penrose.
Andy Samberg co-stars alongside Kate Winslet in theLeecast as David Scherman, the real-life photojournalist who worked alongside Lee Miller as a wartime correspondent during World War 2. WhileLeereceived mixed reviews from critics, it remains a highlight of Andy Samberg’s filmography and serves as the strongest example of his skills outside the realms of slapstick comedy and tongue-in-cheek musical numbers.This is particularly notable when it comes to his on-screen chemistry with Kate Winslet who is, of course, an incredibly experienced dramatic actor known for serious roles.
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers follows the titular duo decades after their show’s cancellation, with Chip leading a quiet suburban life as an insurance salesman and Dale embracing nostalgia conventions. The pair reunites to solve a mystery involving a missing ex-cast member, rekindling their iconic detective personas.
Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangersis inarguably the most underrated Andy Samberg movies, not just in terms of his performance, but also as a film in its own right. The spoof live-action and animated blend takes a nod fromWho Framed Roger Rabbitby depicting a world in which human beings and cartoon characters exist side-by-side. The movie focuses on the career of Chip and Dale, the two chipmunks who led the real-life 1989Rescue Rangersseries (which also exists in the film, though in the 2022 movie, the two stars are actors portraying characters).
Andy Samberg stars as Dale, an impulsive former star who now makes a living appearing at conventions. In the time since the show he got a “CGI makeover” which makes his appearance photorealistic (as opposed to John Mulaney’s Chip, who now worlds as an insurance salesman and is still animated in the classic style).Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangersis the perfect blend of borderline adult humor and family-friendly fun, and few roles utilize Andy Samberg’s voice-acting skills quite as effectively.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a 2016 comedy starring The Lonely Island members Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer. The film centers on Samberg’s character, Conner, a former boy band member who slowly sees his celebrity status drop. However, he’ll do anything to reach stardom again.
The mockumentary musical comedyPopstar: Never Stop Never Stoppingis, in many ways, the closest thing to aThe Lonely Islandmovie, as it stars Andy Samberg alongside bandmates Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer (both of whom also directed, with Samberg joining them on screenwriting duties). The movie focuses on the fiction band “The Style Boyz”, focusing on their lives after Samberg’s Conner Friel decided to leave to become a solo act.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stoppingcontains everything that makes Andy Samberg’s projects likeThe Lonely Islandso hilarious. It’s an incredibly lighthearted viewing experience that uses the mockumentary format to great effect. Andy Samberg’s performance as Conner is also absolutely hysterical, as he’s one of the most oblivious and unself-aware characters Samberg has portrayed to date.Fans who know the actor throughSaturday Night Livewill likely findPopstar: Never Stop Never Stoppingbecomes an instant favorite Andy Samberg movie, as none of his other films build off of his sketch comedy career in quite the same way.
Hot Rod
Hot Rod is a 2007 comedy directed by Akiva Schaffer. The film stars Andy Samberg as Rod Kimble, an aspiring stuntman who plans an elaborate stunt to raise money for his stepfather Frank’s medical expenses. Rod embarks on this ambitious journey with the support of his eccentric friends, encountering various comedic challenges along the way.
2007’sHot Rodis the first movie appearance from Andy Samberg, and remains one of his best films to date. The directorial debut of Akiva Shaffer, one-third ofThe Lonely Islandalongside Samberg,Hot Rodis a hilarious comedy that sees Andy Samberg playing stuntman Rod Kimble. Kimble is incredibly accident-prone, though this only serves to increase his popularity and cause his career to skyrocket (even if it puts his safety at risk).
In many ways,Hot Rodis a quintessential Andy Samberg movie.It brings together all the comedic elements he’s become known for in shows likeBrooklyn Nine-NineandSaturday Night Live,wrapping them all together in a feature-length package that’s a guaranteed delight to his fans. While he’s starred in more successful or widely-known movies in the time since, 2007’sHot Rodremains a highlight of his career.
Hotel Transylvaniastands out among the best Andy Samberg movies and TV shows for two reasons. Firstly, it displays his incredible voice-acting skills better than any of his other appearances in animated projects. Not only this though, but it also highlights his surprising suitability for romantic plotlines. Co-starring alongside Adam Sandler and Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg plays the hilarious Jonathan inHotel Transylvania,a human backpacker who inadvertently stumbles upon a hotel for monsters run by none other than Count Dracula (Sandler).
Not only are the interactions between Samberg’s Jonathan and Sandler’s Dracula hilarious, but the romantic plotline as Jonathan falls for Dracula’s daughter Mavis (Gomez) is incredibly sweet too.Andy Samberg would later return to reprise the role of Jonathan in 2015’sHotel Transylvania 2,2018’sHotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation,and 2022’sHotel Transylvania: Transformania,but the 2012 original remains the best in the franchise.
Celeste and Jesse Forever
Celeste and Jesse Forever is a romantic comedy-drama directed by Lee Toland Krieger. The film stars Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg as a couple navigating the complexities of their relationship as they go through a divorce but strive to remain best friends. Exploring themes of love, friendship, and personal growth, the movie offers a nuanced look at modern relationships.
The romantic comedy-dramaCeleste and Jesse Foreverwas one of the first movies of Andy Samberg’s post-Saturday Night Livecareer.Written by Rashida Jonesand Will McCormack, with Lee Toland Krieger directing,Celeste and Jesse Foreverproved early on that Andy Samberg was perfect as a cast lead in feature-length comedies. Sambar co-starred alongside Rashida Jones (who played Celeste) as Jesse, one half of the titular couple.
While it’s a romcom,Celeste and Jesse Foreveris an incredibly grounded film. It explores the relationship of Celeste and Jesse as they get married at a young age through to their eventual separation.The movie allows for as many touching and emotive moments from Samberg as it does hilarious ones, and should be considered essential viewing for fans who know him from shows likeBrooklyn Nine-Nine.
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels, premiering in 1975. It features comedy sketches parodying contemporary culture and politics, performed by a rotating cast. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest and includes musical performances.
Andy Samberg’s career break inarguably came from his time on the hit sketch showSaturday Night Livebetween 2005 and 2012. Samberg appeared in 139 episodes ofSNL,and it was the platform that introduced the world to his unique style of musical comedy. It was onSaturday Night Livethat his musical trioThe Lonely Islandwas first formed, and many of Samberg’sSNLsongs were simply their hilarious music videos.
One of Andy Samberg’s most notable achievements from his time onSaturday Night Livewas the hilarious musical number “D**k In A Box”,the spoof pop love ballad performed alongside Justin Timberlake.The song won Samberg a Primetime Emmy for Oustanding Original Music and Lyrics in 2007.He’d later go on to be nominated once again in the same category for the equally-hilarious “Motherlover”(once again with Timberlake),“Shy Ronnie”,which was performed with Rihanna, “I Just Had Sex”with Akon,“Jack Sparrow”with Michael Bolton, and “3-Way”with Timberlake and Lady Gaga.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a sci-fi comedy film that sees two strangers, Nyles and Sarah, who meet at a wedding reception and, after heading off for a night of debauchery, are tossed into a strange vortex that keeps them date locked in November 9th with no perceivable way out. Nyles and Sarah bond while trying to find an escape from the odd time loop as the truth behind the vortex slowly unravels.
Directed by Max Barbakow in his feature-film debut,Palm Springsis the 2020 sci-fi rom-com that sees Andy Samber star alongside Cristin Miloti and J.K. Simmons. The story is aclassic time-loop adventurethat offers plenty of hilarious moments along the way, and Samberg gives a gut-burstingly funny performance as Nyles, the boyfriend of Meredith Hagner’s Misty (who eventually becomes the love interest of Miloti’s Sarah Wilder).
Playing Nyles inPalm Springslanded Andy Samberg several accolades, including winning a Critics Choice Super Award for Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie, and being nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.The film proves Samberg’s suitability for leading rom-coms and remains a highlight of his career on the big screen so far.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
From the creative minds of Dan Goor and Michael Schur comes Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a police comedy series set in the NYPD’s fictional 99th precinct. Headed by the comedically serious Captain Raymond Holt and protagonist Jake Peralta, the detectives of the 99 deal with burglaries, drug deals, and oddities in New York City, occasionally steering into real-world issues surrounding police perception and social concerns in the 2010s and earlier. Each detective has their own unique personality that makes them stand out, creating endearing dynamics that helped the show thrive for eight seasons.
Of all the Andy Samberg movies and TV shows, the 2013-2021 police sitcomBrooklyn Nine-Ninestands out as the undisputed greatest of all. The series, which ran on Fox before moving to NBC, focuses on the officers of the 99th precinct of the NYPD. Andy Samberg leads the cast as Jake Peralta, an immature yet incredibly skilled detective, and his performance is nothing short of hilarious.
Playing Jake Peralta landed Andy Samberg some of the most prestigious accolades of his career, including a Golden Globe win in 2014 for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy.Not only didBrooklyn Nine-Ninefully showcase Samberg’s comedic talents, but it also showed his ability to convey emotional moments thanks to Jake’s character arc (especially his romance withMelissa Fumero’s Amy Santiago). While he’s known for plenty outside the show too, it’s hard to deny thatBrooklyn Nine-Nineis the bestAndy Sambergmovie or TV show.
